In 1983, a New Jersey teenager named Whitney Houston sings as part of a church choir, led by her mother Cissy, a professional singer. Cissy pushes Whitney to be better, even if being hard on her at times. Houston finds solace in a friendship with Robyn Crawford, which turns romantic and the two end up moving in together, much to her religious mother's dismay. Cissy is set to perform one evening, but spots record producer Clive Davis in the audience. She feigns illness and encourages Whitney to open the show in her place, singing "The Greatest Love of All". This impresses Davis who signs Whitney to a record deal at Arista Records and books her first major live performance on The Merv Griffin Show, singing "Home".
As Whitney’s career takes off, she starts her own production company, Nippy Inc., run by her overbearing father and self-appointed manager John. When Whitney attempts to make Robyn her assistant, John objects because of their personal relationship and tells them to go on dates with men, which Robyn refuses to do. Houston records "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful" with Jermaine Jackson, whom she ends up sleeping with. This news upsets a jealous Robyn and their romantic relationship fizzles into a close friendship. Singles like "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" makes Whitney an international crossover superstar and appealing to all demographics. However, she faces criticism for selling out and not sounding "black enough". At the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards, Whitney was met with protesters on the red carpet and booed when Anita Baker announces her as one of the nominees for Best Music Video. However, R&B singer Bobby Brown comforts her and the two began dating. Bobby eventually proposes to her but informs her that he has gotten a former girlfriend pregnant. Enraged, Whitney storms out of their limo into a busy street. Bobby comforts her and they quickly reconcile. In 1991, Whitney performs the National Anthem at 25th Super Bowl, earning an incredible reception.
Whitney develops an interest in acting, postponing her own wedding with Bobby to star in The Bodyguard. During filming, she suffers a miscarriage, but returns to the project and records a cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" for the movie's soundtrack. She later marries Bobby and, in the following year, gives birth to their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. In 1994, Whitney performs at a concert for Nelson Mandela's release from prison and goes on tour. Exhausted from performing, Whitney demands to return home to be with her family. At home, she finds her bed empty and her credit card missing. She engages in a near-physical argument with Bobby, when he comes home in the morning, which results in her throwing him out of the house and unwisely using drugs to cope.
In 1998, Clive meets with Whitney about not putting out an album over the last eight years, even though she has released seven major songs and starred in three motion pictures and one television film. Unhappy with Bobby, she decides to record "Why Does It Hurt So Bad", despite rejecting it several times in the past due to not connecting with the song's message. Additionally, after a confrontation with John about spending too much of her money on expensive gifts, she learns that he is negotiating a new deal with Arista.
Fighting insomnia, she goes to Clive's hotel room and asks him to show her new songs to record. Upon finding one she likes, Whitney releases a new album and goes on tour. The tour is exhausting, and Whitney's mental and physical health begins to decline. She descends into addiction, which affects her voice, and her tumultuous relationship with Bobby is all over the news and tabloid headlines. During a visit with Clive, he urges her to enter rehab, but she refuses. Near the tour's end, Robyn fights with Bobby and attempts to get Whitney to return home. Whitney, in the end, chooses to continue the tour and Robyn leaves Nippy Inc. and Whitney completely, but tells her that John is in the hospital.
Whitney visits her father in the hospital, but it ends on a sour note after claims she owes him $100 million. She reveals that she has replaced him with her sister-in-law Pat as manager and ultimately cuts ties with him, not even attending his funeral. Cissy finds Whitney in a drug-induced haze and calls for the police to take her to rehab. She eventually becomes clean, reconnects with her daughter, and divorces Bobby.
She attempts a comeback with a new album and by performing "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", in 2009, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which is met with a standing ovation. After the show, Clive visits her and she tells him that she is interested in touring again, but he advises her to rest. Nevertheless, Whitney goes on tour, but it ends up being a disaster as fans in Europe walk out of her shows and demand refunds, due to the singer's failing voice and stage performance.
In February 2012, Houston arrives at the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles, to perform "Home" at a pre-Grammy ceremony. Her bassist Rickey advises her to call off the performance and rest, but she, optimistically, refuses. At the hotel, she and Bobbi Kristina are preparing for tomorrow's ceremony, when she goes to the lobby to meet with her drug dealer. She goes to the bar and meets Stephen, a bartender and long-time fan, and the two reminisce about her 1994 American Music Awards performance. Later, alone in her bathroom, Whitney, crying, starts a bath, quietly sings "Home" to herself, and looks back on the highlights of her life and career before dying suddenly. The film ends with a flashback of Whitney performing at the aforementioned American Music Awards, singing a medley of "I Loves You, Porgy", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and "I Have Nothing", which is met with a standing ovation.
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